Piano teacher Shirley Herstein is laid to rest

SHIRLEY HERSTEIN, a piano teacher who was referred to as “Miss Shirley” by Jon Batiste in his acceptance speech at the Academy Awards ceremony in April, passed away on Wednesday, July 16, from pancreatic cancer. She was 86.

Herstein had taught Batiste, who won an Academy Award for Best Score for the Pixar film “Soul.” He considered her classical piano lessons to be a major influence on his career.

Herstein and her husband moved to New Orleans in 1968 from her native Philadelphia when he accepted a job with tie manufacturer Wembley Industries. 

She is survived by her husband Harvey and their three daughters, Marci Shapiro (Andy), Robyn Levitt (Andy), Beth Herstein, and four grandchildren.

Services were held on Sunday, July 18, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. with Emeritus Rabbi Ed Paul Cohn officiating.